Posted by Art on Jun 29, 2009 in
Biking
It can be a bit overwhelming when you first start walk into a bike store to buy your first mountain bike and accessories as there is so much choice.
You can purchase many mountain biking accessories and related products. If you are on a budget then be careful the sales staff don’t sell you unnessassary items, you need to ensure your safety and enjoyment not what’s cool. Accessories need to be chosen carefully so the following infomation is a good guide for when you hit those trails.
Bike Helmet
The bike helmet is the most important mountain biking accessory that you can buy. You should never go biking without a helmet. Serious head injurys can be prevented by wearing a helmet, there have been many people who have been unfortunate enough to have experienced this.
All mountain bike helmets are comfortable and stylish and everyone who rides on the trails wears one.
Mountain Bike Gloves
No matter what season you ride in, your hands can take a beating. Beginners will normally keep a death grip on the handle bars, which can be very brutal for their hands. Everyone crashes at some point and your hands will be the first thing to hit the ground. Your hands will take a huge beating so having mountain bike gloves are a must have accessory
Mountain Bike Shorts
After the first few mountain bike rides you take, you’ll notice that your rear end will be quite uncomfortable. Even though your body will adjust, bike shorts are great to have as they will help keep it at a bare minimum. Shorts are a great addidtion to your mountain bike ride as they make your ride more bearable.
Mountain Bike Shoes
You will need to pick your mountain bike shoes accordingly dependent on the type of pedal and the type of riding
you do.
If your bike has clipless type pedals, you’ll want to get shoes to accept the special cleat for your pedals. When purchasing mountain bike shoes things to take into consideration are their durablility, do they have a stiff sole for better efficiency when pedaling and are they comfortable. Also, you should make sure to get the right shoe for the terrain you’ll be ridingin as well.
Eye Protection
If you get something in your eye, you can run off the trail in a matter of seconds. Sunglasses or clear lense glasses can help protect your eyes from any debris which may kick up from the trail as well as protecting them from the wind. Make sure they are non-breakable when you buy your glasses.
Hydration System
Hydration backpacks or a water bottle are a good thing to take with you. Enusre you bring water with you to drink on the trail so your body stays properly hydrated at all times.
Trail Repair Kit
You can easily get stuck in the woods or on the trails if you forget to bring a repair kit for your bike. To be on the safe side, bring a multi-tool designed for bike repair, tyre levers, and a patch kit for fixing flat tyres.
Tags: bike, Bikes, cycle, Cycling, mountain, Mountain Bike, Trek, trial
Posted by Art on Jun 21, 2009 in
Biking
When it comes to road racing, particularly in time trials, everyone is looking to be a light as they possibly can. Pro cyclists are on very strict diets and watch their weight very carefully, but the racing bikes also need to pretty trim. Time trial bikes have seen the weight drop off them as the years have gone by, in fact by around 10g per year. Most people would consider this not a lot but when it comes to racing every gram counts. So what are the latest developments to come on scene, aimed at shaving another few pounds off?
Carbon fiber shoes. When it comes to cycle clothing, strong and light is the key. Firm shoes are vital in order to transfer maximum energy from the legs into the pedals. Traditionally there has been a tossup between using hard materials which were usually heavy or lighter ones that softer and not as effective. New carbon fiber shoes however solve the problem by being very light but also incredibly strong
Lightest spokes. Believe it or not, the weight of your spokes can add up to make a big difference in the overall weight of the bike. Some spokes are now being made out of carbon fiber but they have to be thicker in order to have adequate strength. The preferred option is now titanium spokes Zipp wheels have adopted and can be made to the same size steel ones, but are around half the weight.
Fully carbon bikes. The ultimate in performance racing is the bike made almost completely from carbon fiber. A bike made from this material will not only boast an amazing low weight but being strong enough for any type of racer. Its a very comfortable ride as well according to those lucky enough to have had a go. The only downside to kitting yourself out with all this carbon fiber gear is the expense. It does not come cheap, which is why you’ll only see the top professionals using it for the time being.
Tags: Bikes, carbon fiber, light, racing, speed
Posted by Art on Jun 21, 2009 in
Biking
It seems that cycling becomes more popular as a sport every day and new makes of bikes pop up all the time. Most frequently bikes are made from some form of steel but as technology advances, so more materials have become viable options. A very popular alternative at the moment is aluminium, which is even now being used in snowboards and surfboards. Lets take a better look at the qualities of aluminium and see how it compares to steel?
Strength. Because aluminium as a metal has about 50% less tensile strength than steel, lots of people consider its use for aggressive bike riding not suitable. However, due to aluminum being around half as heavy as most steels, the frame width can be a lot larger and this somewhat makes up for its weakness. Having said this, thicker stronger steel is required on some bikes to withstand large amounts of punishment put on them during some forms of bike riding.
Performance. aluminium has about 33% of the stiffness that steel has. You would think this would a provide an easier ride, but actually most cyclists report the opposite. Lots of riders feel that steel frames are more comfortable. In events where weight is of the utmost importance, aluminium frames tend to outperform the heavier steel. However when strength is the main quality required, steel consistently is the preferred choice
Cost. This really does vary on a number of factors, not least the quality of the steel. There are now steel products on the market that are light enough to almost rival aluminum, however the cost for these is often quite large. On the other hand, there are some cheaper thin-framed aluminium bikes on the market now. However, due to the fact steel is more readily available and is the standard for most new and second hand bikes, it is usually cheaper than aluminium.
Tags: aluminium, Bikes, cost, frames, performance, price, strength
Posted by Art on Jun 6, 2009 in
Biking So what’s the bugger like to ride? It needs to be remembered that the bike is a hybrid human/battery powered design firstly… not a purely electric bike.
Take a look at a trip.
I am immediately confronted with a very steep climb up the street on which I live when I leave my house. In the driveway I get the bike moving in 1st gear (of 21 gears on this mountain bike) and then switch the battery system in at 12V. (Never switch in the electric power with the bike stationary – there’ll be a huge current gulp.)
Then with the bike moving faster, I ratchet up to 3rd gear and select 24V power. In propulsion,the increase is immediately noticeable and as I start the climb, I move up to 5th gear. However, the burst of speed is short-lived and as the bike slows with the increasing gradient, I shift back to 3rd, feeling the electrical assist becoming more pronounced. The trick is not to match going so slowly that the motor is over-loaded, and not pedalling so hard that the rider is over-loaded but the pedalling speed and selected gear with the amount of electric assist!
As the hill flattens before my driveway, the bike slows still further and then when I am only just moving, I switch off the electrics and brake to a halt.
The roads on which I am riding are very hilly – too hilly for normal bikes or even for folding electric bikes, as people are often seen pushing their bikes up them. However, with electric assist there is not a hill that I cannot ride up, and that is without having to stand and pedal.
If you just like the idea of having another form of motorised transport, or your license has gone the way of the dodo, an electric bicycle is a do-able do-it-yourself project.
Tags: electric bicycle, electric bicycles, electric bike, electric bikes, folding electric bike
Posted by Art on Jun 6, 2009 in
Biking HTML clipboard
Not too long ago you had very few choices in what kind of bike you would ride. Most bikes were simple single speed bikes with coaster brakes. Your top speed or long distance riding was dependent upon your leg power and nothing more. In my teen years, I got my first 3-speed Schwinn bicycle and the world of cycling would never be the same for me. The selection of gears made bicycling a lot easier and much more enjoyable.
I remember when the first mountain bicycles being sold with a softer seat and a straight handlebar which provided a more upright riding position. The only negative I saw was the harse ride provided by rugged mountain bike tires.
Somewhere around mid early nineties, some of the major bicycle manufacturers started producing new hybrid bicycles. In the beginning they simply took a popular road bike and exchanged the handle bars for straight bars. Most went with a tire the same size or just a bit larger then their road bikes, only with a bit of more aggressive tread. Generally speaking the early hybrids were a bit more comfortable then the standard road touring bike but their tires made them a bit worse on streets and only good for gravel or dirt paths off road.
Today, it is easy to be confused between terms like mountain bikes, comfort or cruiser bicycles and hybrid bicycles. Comfort bikes for the most part are well sprung and soft seated versions of what we’d refer to as old fashioned cruiser style bikes. These are well suited for easy riding along asphalt roads, dirt paths and beach areas. You’ll probably tire of this bike quickly if you want to do any distance riding or use your bike for commuting to work or school. But they are great for short trips.
The typical mountain bikes today provide a good upright sitting position with adjustable seat height and handle bars. They might provide from 18 to 24 speeds via handle bar twist grip shifters. Many mountain bikes will have front fork suspension and many will also have rear wheel suspension. There are differences of opinion on the value of this type of bike suspension. Some riders feel it provides too soft a ride for serious hill climbing while others value the smoother ride. The simple truth is that most who ride mountain bikes never venture into rough terrain but buy this style bicycle due to the overall look.
A hybrid bicycle is somewhat of a multi-purpose bike that incorporates features of mountain bikes as well as road bikes. Unfortunately, the price is usually more expensive then mountain bikes.
Instead of spending money on a hybrid, you might upgrade your current bike. Most all bike owners will save their bicycles for years. The first thing to consider is where you can find a good variety of bicycle parts for sale. I suggest reading the entire article to help you decide if a Mountain Bike or Hybrid Which is Best for you.
Tags: bicycle for sale, bicycle parts, bicycle tires, cruiser bicycles, Mountain bicycle, schwinn bicycles
Posted by Art on Jun 6, 2009 in
Biking Although cycling dates back centuries, specialist mountain bike production has moved forwards considerably over the past 35 years. Mountain bike frames were originally based on road bikes, but the technology soon had to evolve to meet the unique demands of rough terrain and difficult conditions.
Off road riding is made much easier thanks to the innovations in the bikes design and build. So you can take on more demanding terrain, harder rides and thanks to the advancement in safety equipment take on much more dangerous descents.
Gears
Take as much of the strain away from your legs with up to 27 gears on many mountain bikes.
Suspension
A good quality suspension system is invaluable when off road biking at speed. As a minimum your bike will come fitted with front suspension which is great for bumpy downhill tracks. Full suspension is the best option if you’re riding really rough terrain, but if all your cycling is smooth and leisurely you’ll find you just don’t need it.
Frames
Tough terrain, heavy use and front-and-rear suspension puts a lot of strain on your mountain bike’s frame. This is why super-strong materials and specialised shapes are de rigueur. But it’s no good having an indestructible frame if it’s too heavy to use; it needs to be light enough for you to be able to respond quickly to those last minute detours.
Brakes
Today, disc brakes are commonplace on nearly all mountain bikes. Positioned near the wheels rim they are well away from the tyre and the mud, so are less likely to become clogged up making them more responsive even in the muddiest conditions.
Tyres
Mountain bike tyres are thicker and more ‘knobbly’ than on road bikes. This gives extra grip on muddy ground, better shock absorption and makes it easier to get over rough terrain at speed. You can change your tyres to deal with different conditions.
Women-Specific
Women’s bikes are tailored to a woman’s size and shape. That means smaller reach from seat to handlebars, smaller reach on brake handles and seats shaped for greater comfort. Many brands now offer both men and women’s bikes enabling ladies to try both to see which is most comfortable and best suited to their needs.
Tags: bike, Bikes, cycle, Cycling, mountain, Mountain Bike, Trek, trial
Posted by Art on Jun 6, 2009 in
Biking Bikes are made up of hundreds of components, everyone being important in its own right. You wouldn’t be able to ride without pedals, handlebars, a stem or most other bike accessories for that matter. One element that is integral to the movement of the bike and the transition of power from the rider to the wheels is the chain. The amazing piece of metal design work is now used in countries all over the globe and has myriad applications in each. However, chains do break down and malfunction if not looked after properly. Here are the 3 main reasons why you need to give your chain some regular TLC.
Life extension. Because chains are made from metal they are subject to rusting and corrosion. This is especially the case on bikes because they are frequently getting wet and dirty. After every time a bike is ridden the chain should be washed down well and then oil or a suitable lubricate should be applied to it. This will prevent any corrosion taking place and should also prevent the chain from ceasing up. I you get to point that more than a few links are not moving properly, you will be seriously detrimental to the chains potential.
Damage to bike. If you do not look after the chain on your bike it will start to damage other component that are connected to it. Cranksets work in close connection with the chain and if the links are not moving freely or are damaged, this will cause the crankset to be bent out of shape. Another part that can easily suffer harm is the derailleur, which is also in constant contact with the chain. Racing bikes are even more prone to this their mechanisms are very finely tuned.
Harm to you. A chain that is not in a good way will also pose a risk to whomever is riding the bike. If enough links cease up then the chain can jam and sometimes bring the wheels to an abrupt stop. If you are riding at any sort of speed this can cause the rider to be thrown from the bike and receive untold injuries, especially if you are wearing fragile cycle clothing
Tags: Bicycles, Bikes, care, chain, Cycling, Mountain Bikes, oil, racing bikes